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A ransomware attack is holding Baltimore's networks hostage
A ransomware attack brought Baltimore city government's computers to a halt yesterday. The hackers are reportedly holding the city's files hostage, demanding up to 13 Bitcoins (about $76,280) to free the city's systems. As of this afternoon, the city has quarantined the ransomware, the Baltimore Sun reports. But, in a press conference, the city said it is not sure when all of the systems will be functioning again.
Criminals used a drone swarm to disrupt an FBI hostage rescue
Drones are what you make of them. One person's wedding videographer is another person's drug mule. And while hobbyist drones were first used for simple jobs like sneaking contraband into prisons, over the years they've become the criminal's Swiss Army knife of gizmos. The FBI's Joe Mazel told a crowd at the AUVSI Xponential conference this week about a particularly organized gang that used drones to interfere with a hostage situation last winter. As Defense One reports, a swarm of small drones descended on an FBI hostage team, performing "high-speed low passes" in an effort "to flush them" from their position. "We were then blind," Mazel added.
Woman uses Pizza Hut's mobile app to escape a hostage crisis
It's sometimes too dangerous to call 911, but one Florida woman just found a potentially life-saving alternative: a food delivery app. When Cheryl Treadway's boyfriend threatened to hurt her and her family if they left home, she used Pizza Hut's mobile app to send a request for help under the pretext of ordering food. Thankfully, staff caught the message and sent police to Treadway's home, getting the hostages out safely. This kind of stealthy, app-based plea won't be as necessary once text-to-911 rolls out in earnest, but it's good to know that it's an option in dire circumstances. [Image credit: AP Photo/Alan Diaz]
Hackers harass League of Legends livestreamer with DDoS attacks and police calls
A vendetta against a livestreamer has caused real-world havoc. A user or group identifying itself as DERP has targeted a popular Twitch streamer, calling the police on him and performing DDoS attacks against the games he was playing on December 30th. The streamer's name is James Varga, and according to reports, the games he was broadcasting were shut down by hackers performing distributed denial of service attacks. These games included League of Legends, Dota 2, and those through Battle.net. Varga continued to communicate with DERP during this time, and either DERP or a third party escalated matters by calling 911 and claiming that Varga was holding hostages in his home. Varga was then briefly detained while the police searched his home, but he was released without charges. This is similar to an incident earlier last month when a World of Warcraft livestreamer was arrested after someone called the police on him to interrupt his stream.
Sony France boss held hostage by disgruntled workers
The Agence France-Presse is reporting that Serge Foucher, president of Sony France, is being held "hostage" by angry workers whose plant is about to close. "He won't listen to us, we didn't find any other solution," said the union spokesman. Foucher had come to the video tape manufacturing plant at Pontonx-sur-l'Adour in southwest France to meet with the 311 workers one more time before the plant's closure. Unhappy with the compensation offered, the workers barricaded the entry with tree trunks late Thursday night. Look, times are tough, but let's be civil, ok? Besides, demand for video tapes is certainly not at risk.
Thief says PS3 needed to stop hostage situation
There are stories about stolen PS3s ... and then there's this story. A man who stole a PS3 system from a St. Louis EB Games store at gunpoint told the clerk that he needed the system to "save his family." According to KSDK, the theif told the clerk that "his family was being held hostage" and only the PS3 would save them.The police arrived shortly after the incident, but the thief had already vanished. Was he a real victim of a hostage situation -- or was he a thief that just wanted to tell an interesting story? Until the police find him, we'll never really know.[Thanks, Gambit07!]
Gold sellers hold account hostage
We all deal with them. Their annoying spam, their flooding of the general channels. Those gold sellers deserve the kiss of death. Wouldn't it be nice if their industry just went and slept with the fishes?In a tactic that even Don Corleone himself would be angry at, gold sellers have sunken to a new low. John M. wrote in to tell us the tale of a fellow guild mate who fell under the gaze of a gold seller who took his account hostage, demanding payment from his guild. Sit back, open up a new window with this Godfather music, and read on after the break. I'm gonna make you an offer you can't refuse.
WoR previews Zul'Aman
World of Raids has posted everything they know about Zul'Aman, the next 10man instance due in patch 2.3. Tigole has said that Zul'Aman is coming to the PTR next week, so if your guild is a big fan of the PTR, you could be headed to the Troll city in the Ghostlands very soon.They've got pictures up of four of the bosses, and info about the two last bosses, Hexlord Zin'jakk and Zul'jin himself, that we'll fight together. The first boss (whichever one that is-- I thought it was the Bear boss, but that fight seems more complicated) is supposed to be easier in terms of raid coordination, but Zul'Aman is definitely a continuation of what's going on in Karazhan, according to Blizzard. They say the difficulty will start around Nightbane or Prince and head upwards from there. Also, as we've heard, Zul'Aman will have a timed quest similar to the Baron Run, where you can try doing the instance quickly to earn better loot.Exciting stuff. I usually stay away from the PTRs, just because I like seeing stuff when it's released live on the realms, and any progress I make in the PTRs is eventually lost. But 10 mans are always fun, and I love the Zul instances, so whenever the PTR hits this week, you just might find me there taking down Trolls.Thanks, Atryd!
Hostage crisis: Orgimmar
On the Ravenholdt (US) realm mayhem is afoot. A member of the Alliance guild Colossus posted on the realm forums that they have taken the Orgimmar Wind Rider Master hostage. "We have your Flight Master for ransom," the ominous message reads, "There is a Mining Pick up for 100 gold on the neutral Auction House. Buy it and Doras will be freed." Although this has been done before, it still is a novel way to bring role play into the world of Azeroth. I am always fascinated with what players can do within the framework of the game.Can no one help poor Doras? Until something is done, all transportation for the Horde has come to a screeching halt. Please, for the love of Thrall, do something! Do we expect retaliation, or will the Horde give in and buy that blasted mining pick? Oh the humanity!
